# Hallgrímsson urges Uefa to separate Ireland and Israel

> Ireland manager calls for Uefa to keep teams apart after tense Nations League draw.
- Title: Hallgrímsson urges Uefa to separate Ireland and Israel
- Summary: Ireland manager calls for Uefa to keep teams apart after tense Nations League draw. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson urged Uefa to prevent future matches…
- Keywords: heimir hallgrímsson, ireland, israel, uefa, nations league, tsc arena, backa topola, serbia, sports, Hallgrímsson, urges, separate
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/04/republic-of-ireland-israel-nations-league-match-report
- Published: 2026-10-04T21:13:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: heimir hallgrímsson, ireland, israel, uefa, nations league, tsc arena, backa topola, serbia, sports
## Tensions flare in Ireland-Israel match
Ireland’s Jayson Molumby and Jason Knight argued with Eli Dasa and Oscar Gloukh of Israel as tensions spilled over during the Nations League fixture.
## Hallgrímsson calls for Uefa separation
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson urged Uefa to keep his team away from Israel in future draws after a tough Nations League match.
## Half-time confrontation
A member of Hallgrímsson’s backroom staff alleged an Israeli player spat at him after a half-time clash, which he said should be handled by Uefa’s disciplinary committee.
## Match result and context
Troy Parrott scored a first-half penalty for Ireland, but Dor Peretz equalized two minutes after the restart in a 1-1 draw at TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia.
## Armbands and respect
Ireland players wore black armbands during the Israeli national anthem, and goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher avoided shaking hands with Israel captain Dor Peretz.
## Neutral venue decision
The Football Association of Ireland moved the match to a neutral venue in June due to calls for a boycott over Israel’s actions in Gaza, with no fans present.
## What happens next
Uefa is expected to step in to prevent future Ireland-Israel matches following the manager’s call for separation after a tense Nations League draw.
## Key takeaway

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson urged Uefa to prevent future matches between Ireland and Israel following a bad-tempered draw in Serbia.